Astilbe plant named ‘Happy Day’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Astilbe  plant named ‘Happy Day’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; red-colored developing stems and dark green-colored leaves; freely and uniformly flowering habit; white-colored flowers on strong, tall and upright peduncles; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Astilbe arendsii.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HAPPY DAY’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders' Rights application filed on Feb. 1, 2020, application number 20200354. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed Plant Breeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Astilbe, botanically known as Astilbe arendsii and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Happy Day’.

The new Astilbe plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform and freely flowering Astilbe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Astilbe plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2013 in Heemskerk, The Netherlands, of two unidentified Astilbe arendsii seedling selections. The new Astilbe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands during the summer of 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Astilbe plant by vegetative divisions in a controlled nursery environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands since December, 2015, has shown that the unique features of this new Astilbe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Astilbe have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Happy Day’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Happy Day’ as a new and distinct Astilbe plant:

-   -   1. Compact, broadly upright and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dense and bushy appearance.     -   4. Red-colored developing stems and dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and uniformly flowering habit.     -   6. White-colored flowers on strong, tall and upright peduncles.     -   7. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Astilbe differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in plant habit as plants of the new Astilbe are more compact and denser than plants of the parent selections. In addition, inflorescences of plants of the new Astilbe are longer than inflorescences of plants of the parent selections.

Plants of the new Astilbe can be compared to plants of Astilbe arendsii ‘Brautschleier’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Astilbe and ‘Brautschleier’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Astilbe are more compact and bushier than         plants of ‘Brautschleier’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Astilbe are dark green in color         whereas leaves of plants of ‘Brautschleier’ are bronze green in         color.

Plants of the new Astilbe can be compared to plants of Astilbe arendsii ‘Verswhite’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,845. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Astilbe and ‘Verswhite’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Astilbe are more compact and bushier than         plants of ‘Verswhite’.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Astilbe are dark green in color         whereas leaves of plants of ‘Verswhite’ are dark bronze green in         color.     -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Astilbe are longer and         narrower than inflorescences of plants of ‘Verswhite’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Astilbe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Astilbe plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Happy Day’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘Happy Day’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 19-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heemskerk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Astilbe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 40° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 24° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Astilbe arendsii ‘Happy Day’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unidentified Astilbe arendsii             seedling selection, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unidentified Astilbe arendsii             seedling selection, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About three weeks at temperatures             about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically brown in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; compact,             broadly upright and mounding plant form with inflorescences             held above the foliar plane; flowering stems and leaves             basal; freely flowering with numerous basal branches             developing per plant, dense and bushy; moderately vigorous             growth habit; and freely and uniformly flowering habit.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately rapid; from divisions, about three             months are required to produce fully-grown flowering plants             in containers.         -   Plant height (soil level to top of foliar plane).—About 22.5             cm.         -   Plant height (soil level to top of inflorescences).—About             34.2 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 41.5 cm.         -   Stem description.—Length: About 13.7 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Internode length: About 3.4 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Erect to about 20° from vertical. Texture and             luster: Sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 180A. Color, developed: Close to 144B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; biternately compound; on average,             about 15 leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length (excluding petiole).—About 13.6 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 13.9 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet length.—About 5.7 cm.         -   Terminal leaflet width.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet length.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Lateral leaflet width.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Leaf shape, in outline.—Broadly ovate to broadly deltoid.         -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptic to narrowly elliptic and narrowly             ovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Apiculate to acuminate.         -   Leaflet base.—Short attenuate to narrowly obtuse.         -   Leaflet margin.—Biserrate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately             pubescent; moderately glossy.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             between 144A and 144B; at the base, close to 180A.             Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 144B; at the             base, tinged with close to 182D. Fully expanded leaflets,             upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 147A; at the             base, close to 183A to 183B; venation, close to 147C. Fully             expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close to NN137C; at the             base, close to 178A to 178B; venation, close to 147C.         -   Leaf petiole length.—About 14.9 cm.         -   Leaf petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Leaf and leaflet petiole strength.—Strong.         -   Leaf and leaflet petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy.         -   Leaf and leaflet petiole color, upper surface.—Close to             146C; at the base, close to 178B; at the nodes, close to             183A.         -   Leaf and leaflet petiole color, lower surface.—Close to             145A; at the base, close to 145A; at the nodes, close to             183B to 183C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate flowers             arranged on terminal compound panicles; flowers face             upright, outward or downward depending on position on the             inflorescence; panicles conical in shape; freely and             uniformly flowering habit with about 800 flowers developing             per inflorescence and about 10,000 flowers developing per             plant during the flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—Strong; sweet and pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 13             weeks after planting; continuously flowering from late             spring until late summer in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the             plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Broadly elliptic to roughly spherical. Texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Sepals, close to             144B and 144C and petals, close to NN155D.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 16.9 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 12.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 0.75 mm. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Narrowly cuneate. Margin:             Entire; not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color:             Developing petals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             NN155D. Fully expanded petals, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to NN155D; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, lower 30% fused towards the base forming a             campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About             1.25 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Bluntly acute. Base: Cuneate,             fused. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Developing sepals,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 150D. Fully expanded             sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155A; color             does not change with development.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 16.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster:             Moderately to densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color:             Close to 144A to 144B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Angle: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; matte.             Color: Close to NN155A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             ten; anthers basifixed. Filament length: About 2 mm.             Filament color: Close to NN155A. Anther shape: Broadly             ovate. Anther length: About 0.3 mm. Anther diameter: About             0.2 mm. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to NN155A. Pistils: Quantity per flower:             Two. Pistil length: About 1.5 mm. Stigma diameter: About             0.1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to             155A. Style length: About 1 mm. Style color: Close to             NN155A. Ovary color: Close to NN155A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Astilbe. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Astilbe have     not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Astilbe plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Astilbe have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind, temperatures     ranging from about −25° to 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA     Hardiness Zones 5 through 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Astilbe plant named ‘Happy Day’ as illustrated and described. 